#i like my car its snazzy also i was thinking of saving up (when i get a job again obv) to eventually put on a low spoiler

[kindlyfunkn]

oh yeah! forgot to share when i put it on bc i was busy and it was in the garage the day after, but check it out. flipped a coin to whether i wanted autobot or decepticon and well, you can see what i ended up getting.

working on a design, and ive tentatively named him cloudsurge, but its very likely to change

[nofive]

Five’s Bedroom

I have done a headcanon about brief observations I have made on Five’s bedroom before. I have also talked about things in his bedroom in a few other headcanons. But this will be delving into the canon state of Five’s childhood room, and his area in the Apocalypse to get a sense for how Five is as a person and a bit more of what he was like as a child.

Also fair warning, this post is long, and their are lots of big images. If you want, I am tagging this post with a special tag “Five’s Bedroom Meta” so that you can block it if you do not wish to scroll through it on your dash. All images that have adjusted brightness was purely to enhance the background of the image.

Like with everything I may add on to this as time goes by.

The bare bones, no deep diving yet ( Five’s Childhood Room )

Based off multiple images from the Making of TUA book, the show itself, and Aidan’s behind the scenes pictures I’ve put together a very basic floor plan of Five’s room ( please don’t make fun of my handwriting ). I don’t know about y’all but I feel like Five’s door needs to be at a til like Allison and Luther’s. But its not. So this floor plan basically gives a layout of his room in general. Its not to scale obviously, but it gives us a good starting off point. One thing I would like to note, that I think is only applicable to Five’s room as that there are two doors much like Reginald’s office, which I will touch on a bit later. Not drawn are the at least four lamps, one on his desk, one on the small bookshelf by his bed, and one on his nightstand, he has at least two sconces one on the wall near the closet, and one on the wall near the blue chair, he also has a main light fixture with at least three bulbs. But it is simply his closet, a very small closet at that.

Five’s bedroom has two windows, one that leads to a fire escape, which is next to his bed on the wall with the slanted roof. Both windows have radiators beneath them that Five utilizes as shelving. On the slanted wall side of his room Five’s bed is pushed not quite into the corner as he has a small bookshelf there that has more toys on it than books, and has a chest at the foot of his bed, and then he has his bookshelf which due to the slanted wall has the appearance of a built in.

Five’s desk and desk chair are on the same wall as his closet, though his desk chair being on wheels can move about. Above the desk are a set of shelves, Luther’s room has something very similar, with a set of towels and his toiletries. Five’s towels are blue, Luther’s appear to be tan or brown. If I had to guess all the siblings have different colors of towels. Next to his desk in between it and the bookshelf is a basket that appears to have a white board, and a fireman’s hat. There is also a possible laundry basket on the other side of his desk closer to the closet.

On the wall that has the main door to his room you have his wardrobe or armoire. we know thanks to Klaus that this houses jackets, possibly that snazzy coat and scarf from the bank as well as various toys namely baseballs. I know there is a baseball bat in his room but I cannot find a picture of it. Also I should note, I have no idea what is rapped in that white sheet looking thing.

On the other side of the door we have his dresser. The door funnily enough has a window up top sort of akin to an office door implying that Five’s room did in fact used to be an office. In fact the way it’s styled makes it seem like it could be a 1920s styled Private Investigator office. The dresser has a dart board above it that he takes down to write his equations and then puts it back up despite not putting anything else back on the walls. In front of the dress and the second window is a blue chair that we see Delores occupy while Grace patches up his Shrapnel wound she is sitting on his blue desk chair. Next to the radiator under the window we have Five’s nightstand.

The walls of Five’s bedroom are all painted a minty green color. So is all the triming including the the window seal ledges. The only non-painted areas are the bricks under the slanted roof/wall of his room and the boarder wallpaper.

The Deep Dive

So that takes us around his room, now lets actually delve into those pictures and what we see in them. So lets start at the beginning with the closet. To my knowledge Five is the only one with a closet in his room, and a second door. I only bring this up because the parallels and similarities between Five and Reginald is very obvious. And we know Reginald’s office has two doors. I just think that is interesting, not to mention Five’s bedroom was very likely an old office based on how The Academy is multiple buildings together. I should also note that based on the scene when Five is escaping onto the fire escape the window that is not on the slanted wall portion of his room shouldn’t have light coming into it because another building butts up to it.

Five’s bedroom is actually quite large accented with blue of varying shades from the carpet to his main comforter, to his desk chair, pillows, curtains, and his secondary chair. All the wood in his room is a light walnut color. And his doors are painted this minty green color. His second comforter looks to be navy, white, and red plaid. The fact that he has a second comforter that is used means not only has Grace changed his sheets, but he likely has slept in them, which means he likely did sleep. I only say its second comforter and not a blanket because we know Five has a chest at the foot of his bed with a blanket on it that could have been used. The chest likely has his extra bedding in it though. On Five’s bedside table he has a stack of what appears to be text books, but they seem more like workbooks of some sort. So think like SAT prep books. He also has a set of what appears to be five novels on his nightstand, and some sort of CD player or maybe a dehumidifier. 

The blanket as you can see has planets, a moon, and a spaceship on it, which is pretty on par for things that Five likes. All over his room, and in these images you can see images of robots on his walls. Particularly you can see comic drawings of robots. He has a rock-em sock-em robot poster on his wall. He even has a robot on his bookshelf by his desk. Five has a fascination with robots. Which could foreshadow his relationship with Delores, and perhaps something of his relationship with Grace, liking wanting to know how she works. Also foreshadowing of Five and Delores is quite literally in the wallpaper boarder above the chair rail which has a kid pulling a red wagon with a mannequin in them.

Additionally we see lots of building blocks particularly on the bookshelf next to Five’s bed. Five is very hands on when it comes to his hobbies. He has means of transportation all over his room which could make sense given his power, but it could also give him a connection to Luther seeing as Luther also has airplanes and cars in his room. Five has boats, and cars all over his room. Further he also has lots of construction toys including an excavator and a cement truck. On top of his wardrobe he has a sail boat and a covered wagon. He also has a poster of a motorcyle or moped on his wall. If Five had stayed behind he would have been the first to learn how to drive for sure.

From first glance Five’s room seems super organized. But when you actually look at it, its not. Books in particular are stacked where he can stack them. The binders on his desk are initially upside down, and someone put them right side up, I would guess Luther as he is messing around Five’s desk to look for things. Five works in an organized chaos we see this from his equations as he writes over the boarder and such We later see this echoed in his Apocalypse home.

When it comes to other things Five has a few knick knacks all of them are travel based, saved for one. I’ve mentioned the toys. The one I’m referring to can be seen on his desk and I believe it is a nautical instrument used to help measure distance and time or speed. I could be wrong. But it is on Five’s desk along with what appears to be homework of some sort in the trays. He’s also got a stapler on his desk which I simply find ironic.

The one knick knack he has that isn’t related specifically to travel is a wooden basket that has busted up watches. Pocket watches, wrist watches, etc. They are old, and are not digital. My theory on this is that at one point he attempted to use the watch to magnify his power, particularly that of Time Travel. But they kept breaking, but it only fueled his theory that he could do it. This is also a call back to the comic where Five as a kid is always shown to have a pocket watch.

Briefly on his closet, which is best pictured above. It is small. Also it appears to only hold his uniforms, which by the way he is going through them makes him seem like he should have more clothes and he can’t find them. This implies Five does have civvies or street clothes but they have been lost over time which would make Five’s “Shit” make much more sense. Its not that he only has uniforms as his option, its that he can’t find his civilian clothes.

Last but not least the dart board. I do have a headcanon about it. But the fact that you can see the equations go behind the dart board on the wall means he put it back up. Five in the original pilot script had a love of knives quite like Diego. My guess is the dart board is a call to that. But we also know Five is super competitive and I think he tries to get accurate with throwing knives to beat Diego. Also we know that Five has Diego’s knife holster in the apocalypse so Five liking knives is not just a original pilot script thing. 

The Comparison ( his Apocalypse Home Base )

Five’s apocalypse home base ironically takes on many similar characteristics of Five’s bedroom. Meaning the core of who Five is has not changed. He has a love for learning, partially cause he is literally creating new math, but he has a desk still, and he still stacks books haphazardly. He also has his chalkboard which seems to be Five’s favorite way of doing math. I theorize its because he’s working on things that are so large he needs more room than paper can provide. Also paper is hard to come by in the apocalypse, at least blank paper is because he uses Vanya’s book. Five has a habit of placing important things on places he can easily see and find. Such as the probability map ending above his bed, and the equation on his chalk board likely ending up in his copy of Vanya’s book.

Final Thoughts

So what are my final thoughts? I think the making of TUA book has got Five pinned all wrong. Five’s room is sparse because he left early, but not because he didn’t have hobbies or time to decorate it. He clearly did. Five like athletics at least baseball, and he had an interest in robots, comics, and transportation. He also likes building as he has blocks and potentially even legos. The transportation could be an extension of him getting to know his power, maybe. But we know Luther is very similar with transportation just of the aerospace kind and we know that’s likely not related to his power ( unless you include my headcanon that his main power is actual gravity manipulation ). Five had interests and was even starting to personalize his room before he left, he also had an imagination seeing as the fireman’s helmet is still readily out and available to play which plays into Delores being part of his active imagination and becoming the imaginary friend he needs to stay somewhat sane in the apocalypse.

Five’s room tells us of a boy who was active, and had interests, and he still has a liking for those interests as we see him unable to help himself and play with one of the trucks during the show. It gives us a brief look into the boy that we truly know very little about. Because while we have so much of his story displayed for us, we have so little of what he was like before. He has toys and things all over his room with no real rhyme or reason as to why things are placed in certain areas. It makes sense to him obviously, but it is not the key organized thing you would expect. If it was all his trucks would be in one place for example.

We also can see Five is a bit more chaotic than his room implies on first glance. From both the Apocalypse and his kid bedroom Five has a habit of stacking books a bit haphazardly and storing things also a bit haphazardly as seen by the crate on top of his wardrobe, and the fact that he has stuff just piled into said wardrobe that comes tumbling out when Klaus does.

When it comes to his room location I believe it is on the third floor above Allison and Luther’s, on the second, and Klaus, Vanya, and Diego’s on the lower floor. Since we don’t know where Ben’s room is and the door across from Five’s is always shut, I do think that that is likely where Ben’s room was. But according to Five there are 42 Bedrooms in the place so it could be anywhere really.

Five’s room, like Five himself hides behind a layer of sparsity. You have to give him more than a cursory glance to know what is really going to get him deep down.

[iphoenixrising]

I can't stop thinking about your Dr!Tim verse (This isnt a prompt btw, I just wanted you to know that Ive been thinking about your writing and how much its inspired me. Sorry for how long this is). I keep imagining the man on the bridge being the hot topic on every news station and paper, even more than Batman and Robin. Everyone wants to know who he is. Is he ok? Did he give his life saving his fellow Gotham citizens? There are a lot of questions

(2)and few answers. Those in the loop are more than content to leave it that way,but somehow it gets leaked that Gothams new hero is a young prodigy doctor atGotham General. Tim is not made aware of this until he gets mobbed by reportersas he’s leaving his 36 hour shift and getting asked a lot of innapropriatepersonal questions. And it’s not nearly as funny as you seem to think it is,Jason.

(3)Of course his boyfriends quickly stop finding the situation funny once the joboffers from all over the world start rolling in. Dozens of them, all offeringthings like millions of dollars in salary, positions like chief of surgery, allin state of the art hospitals that are properly funded and don’t reside incities with crazy clown attacks. And it hurts because, how could they ask himto stay? How could they ask their genius sugar to tie himself down to a city

(4)that chews everyone in it up and spits them out, to be a doctor in a hospitalbarely scraping by, how could they ask their genius boy to refuse a once in alifetime opportunity to escape this shithole of a city and make something bigof himself, all to stay with two vigilantes who cant guarantee they’ll make ithome each night. They couldn’t do it, they want whats best for their boy, evenif it means he leaves them. They can’t ask him to stay.

(5)Damian of course has no such qualms about blackmailing, er requesting Drakestay in the city, and subsequently with his older brothers (Because if he hurtsthem, Damian will hurt Tim twice as bad). Which leads to a very awkwardconversation in which Damian threatens Tim not to leave, Tim is confusedbecause “who said anything about leaving?” And then they have a heartto heart about how Tim isn’t stuck at Gotham general, he chose that hospital.And that he’s not going anywhere anytime soon.

**

So, hi babe :D  Iknow this has been sitting in my inbox for a minute, sorry >.

Brilliant, babe. Justbrilliant.

I also get to play withanother back-and-forth I haven’t really gotten to yet in these little things,so I’m super excited for B and Tony Stark to just have a little snark-fest,yeah?  

**

Tony showed up a fewweeks early for his quarterly “visit” to Gotham.

It’s disconcertingbecause Tony Stark goes between creating new innovations to privatelyconsulting around the US on the most dire of cases in need of a precise handand large enough ego to make miracles happen. He might have to do somebookkeeping even though Pepper is his CEO and runs his company with iron heels. When he’s not working, he has a nice relationship waiting for himat home.

All of it didn’t leaveTony much time to be running to Gotham before schedule to do someridiculous amount of pouting.

And yet?

Here they are.

When Tim actually getsto turn away from the stack of charts he’s updating, he has an oh shitmoment because Tony…isn’t immediately talking. No white coat, just asnazzy three-piece, arms crossed over his chest, and utterly

Silent.

Tim automaticallystands, taking in his old mentor from head to foot, looking for clues toadd to the inevitable diagnosis hovering in his brain pan.

(Because, you know, thattime when he was still a lowly bachelor and could take a month off of Mercy topretty much live in Tony’s facility while things like brain tumors threatenedhis Tony Stark’s life. His hands didn’t shake the whole time he was rootingaround that famous mound of grey matter–that’s when he knew he’d hit the bigleagues.)

“If you even think,”Tony starts, low and angry, “of taking the offer from UCLA over mine, Iwill be an even bigger asshole about your terrible life choices.”

Oh.

Oh shit.

Word has apparently gottenaround.

It started out with aquick blurb on the news, blurry camera phone picture of emergency workers andplain clothes civilians jumping to action in the middle of a crisis, a humaninterest story and all that. A glimmer of goodness among the chaos.

More picture with betterquality once the shock and aftermath died down, started to flood Social Media,even various videos of cables snapping and people running, trying not to gettrampled. One the media latched onto just happened to be of him carrying thelittle girl from the car and helping her mother up in the back of a truck tosend them to safety.

The one with himbreaking through the fallen debris made Dick gasp from the table where he waspatching his suit and Jay wrap a big hand around his ankle to squeeze.

The one where he almostlost his grip climbing the wall of broken shit and flaming car remains isprobably where someone saw the connection because the class of kids went on thenews, holding up colorful signs with Thank-You, Dr. Drake!

He was happy they allseemed fine and after an uncomfortable call from Channel 11 Gotham (howthey found out his name is still a mystery even though he suspects B is an evenbigger troll than he’d already surmised), in which he stipulated nocameras this time, went by the elementary school for a visit. They gripped hisnerd shirt with excited hands, and his arms are long enough for a lot ofhugs.

But while Channel 11agreed to his term of no cameras, no interviews, that didn’t really panout when it came to the story later on that night.

His picture flashed allover the damn place, the resident angel on the bridge as one Dr. Drakefrom Mercy General trying to save as many lives as he could. More video clipsand interviews after the fact (he’s so glad to see that Karmen and her mom areokay), and dammit, he’s being literally attacked outside thedouble doors to his ER after a very long shift without Steph. He mighthave been a little mean when he told them in no specific terms that he was onlytrying to make sure people didn’t, you know, die horribly, as is hisnormal, every-day job, and please let him go home where he can pass outfor a day or he’s going to lie down on someone’s shoes and take a nap.

Jay was predictablyentertained at the whole of it. Dick merely told him his kick-ass doctorinstincts deserved appropriate accolades.

Both of them areassholes, but still, they’re his assholes.

But eventually, likeeverything in Gotham, those videos became old news and the next wave ofinevitable oh shit became front and center. Which, should have meant hisfifteen seconds of fame was pretty much over (thankfully)–if he hadn’tstarted getting other interest.

Several offers startedcoming first by mail to the Penthouse, more by phone and email. Unassumingproper stationary with silver and gold lettering, bright voicemails about his“heroism” and obvious skill in emergency situations, emails from high-rankingdoctors or board members extending an invitation to visit their campus and seeif his career might be going in a new direction.

(Gag)

It was pretty easy atfirst, chucking those finely detailed introduction letters in the trashdiscreetly, sending back appreciative declines without Dick or Jason gettingwise as to how many there actually were.

(John Hopkinsthough…that one he had to think about)

A month later and thingsslacked off (or might be routed through Drake Industries so they stop coming tothe Penthouse). Apparently, though, the attention had been somewhat noticeable.

“I don’t know what youmay have heard, Tony, but–” he starts out calmly, putting the penpointedly down.

“Let me start with the shortlist,” it’s the usual sarcasm laying the mood, mimicking an imaginarychecklist, “John Hopkins, Department Head of Emergency Medicine. Mayo, General Surgery Residency Program Director. MassachusettsGeneral, Chief of Surgery. UCSF, Chief of Residents. UCLA, Chief of Staff.Cedars-Sinai, Neuroscience research grants out the ass. Sound morefamiliar?”

Well, there’s only oneway to get this conversation started.

Bonding over coffee.

Gathering up hischarts with a sigh, Tim shakes his head a little and grabs the cane he’s beenusing since his leg is finally starting to get with it (and no Steph,the House MD jokes were funny a week ago, now you need new material). Heshoos Tony out of the room and down the corridor to the chaos that is his ER.

“Notice I didn’tmention the very generous and consistent offer from StarkMedical, Tim,” because Tony really has nothing to be mad about per sayand falls in step beside him anyway, slowing down his unusually fast strides toaccount for the limp. “Because I’m not here to smooze.”

He pauses at the maindesk to arrange the charts in order, gets the approving nod from his favoriteHead Nurse.

“There’s story behindthis,” he fills in casually, “it’s more complicated than just–”

“You almost died,”Tony interrupts smoothly, “on a bridge. You ran around on a crumbling bridgeinstead of getting people the hell off while you got the hell off. Halfthe nation saw that guy with the crazy bat fetish catch someone out in openwater wearing purple scrubs, Tim.”

Well, none of that isa lie really.

Hands free, Tim gripsTony’s elbow and steers them pointedly into the break room, closes the door.With Dr. Stark roaming around Mercy, most everyone would stay clear unless somecatastrophe hits anyway.

He lets Tony stew fora few minutes while he makes a fresh pot of coffee and thinks very, very hardabout how this is going to go.

“You were worriedabout me,” Tim finally gives a half-grin in the face of Tony’s nope, andputs a fresh paper cup in his hand, “you can bluster all you want, but you wereworried, and I appreciate it.”

“That is absolute crapand you know it. I’m here to make sure no other hospitals or researchfacilities snatch you up, Drake. Not after all the effort I put into you overthe last few years.”

Sure, Tony. “The bridge. I survived. A lot of otherpeople survived, so you can ignore whatever crap the news stations aresaying–”

“All of it is true.You stupidly risked your life when the structural integrity was compromised,and since it just happened to involve that wing-nut in the cape, thenation is going to pay the fuck attention.”

Which is probably whyhe’s suddenly Mr. Popular in his field. Well, that does answer some questions.

“You’re taking thisout of proportion,” even if it’s fruitless, he’s still going to try,“there really haven’t been that many–”

“Twenty of the topfacilities in the world have made offers that would put this place to shame.Three of your last publications have shown up in recent journals. The nextsymposium you’re supposed to be at is already sold out.”

And well, shit.He…he didn’t know all of that.

“Besides, if I wasblowing it out of proportion, we wouldn’t be talking about it in thedeserted break room, Drake.”

Tim groans out loud,rubbing a tired hand down his face. How is he going to explain without soundinglike a complete moron?

“Tony, the offersare…nice, okay? I’m not going to say it isn’t cool to be wanted by someof these places. I mean Cedars… they have equipment and research facilitiesmost places couldn’t even dream of. Just the possibilities–”

A very pointedclearing of the throat makes him take a pause to breathe, count to ten becausehe has to get in the mindset to deal with Tony like this again (it’s been aminute) when he’s being incredibly stubborn.

Neither of them noticethe dark blue against black right at the side of the building, but the presenceunder the open window narrows white eyes and stays hidden in the Gotham shadow. Who even knew how long he’d been there.

“Excuse me,Cedars has equipment most facilities–aside from Stark Medical of course–couldn’teven dream of.”

The look he gets backis unimpressed at most, but Tim can see past the usual Tony Stark mask. Theexuding confidence is there like the nice, expensive suits he wears, but underneaththe brilliance and the snark, Tony’s eyes are bloodshot and the dark circlesunderneath look like bruises. He keeps his dominant hand in the pocket of hispants, probably to hide the slight tremble (which is why he isn’t wearing acoat, right? If Tony’s riding the sleep dep train, he won’t operate if hishands are starting to shake).

Tim eases back alittle, sips on his terrible sludge while idly thumbing his phone open.

“I’m very well awareof the opportunities right in front of you, Tim,” Tony starts moving, a shortwhirlwind of movement, activity, and energy. “I’m just saying–”

“What I told you ayear ago is still true,” Tim comes back, finishing up the quick text to one ofTony’s significant others, (just a little knowledge drop on how exhausted hismentor really is). He puts his phone away and crosses his arms over his chestin a firm sign of ‘this is how the discussion is going to go.’

“You can’t be serious.”And yes, that’s Tony Stark without all the touchy-feely, I care if you diekind of thing. “I’m outraged. I’m outraged on your behalf, Tim.”

“You can’t be,” hedeadpans.

“The hell I can’t.You’re going to stay here, in this death trap of a city and practicemedicine in this ill-equipped, dilapidated chop-shop hold-over from the secondWorld War–”

“Tony, c’mon.”

“While half thegoddamned world is out for you?! Do you have any idea what kindof direction your career could go if you accepted even one of thoseoffers?”

“I–”

“Anything else isliterally going to be professional suicide.”

“When you put it like that–”he snarks back, getting a little closer to his patience. It had taken longerthan usual because Tony, like Layla, needed to adults to lay it out for themonce and awhile.

“It’s time to listento reason, Tim. You’ve had plenty of time to try, I don’t know, winningthe Nobel for putting up with terrible conditions and homicidal maniacs withbomb fetishes. Isn’t it time you started challenging yourself again, and notby trying to die in this trash-dump city?”

And the shadowsoundlessly slides away in the night, leaving the conversation to finish up anecessary patrol. The rushing wind doesn’t take away anything he’s alreadylearned.

Dr. Drake, blissfullyunaware of the company, narrows his eyes dangerously, straightens up because dammit,he thought he handled this.

“I. Am. Not.Interested.” He tries, wondering if the emphasis counts. “As appealing as theresearch capabilities are, I’m not taking any of the offers. At all, atall. I’m staying right the fuck here where I choose to be.”

And he sees Tony startto open his mouth to start-up with another fast and furious argument on whyGotham is a cesspool of death and more death, but Tim walks right overanything he might have started in on by just getting right up in Tony’s faceand laying it all out.

“I appreciate the fuckout of the interest, Dr. Stark. Thanks but no thanks.”

“I need someone tocheck you out obviously.”

“I like ithere.”

“Oh? And what’s hername Mister I-Like-It-Here?”

“His name,Tony, and their names for your information.”

That has the intendedeffect and makes his old mentor pretty much pause on the next syllable.   

“But just so you know,they aren’t the only reasons why I’m staying in Gotham City. It’s more thanbeing close to my parents’ graves or close to my best friend and my niece. It’smore than just finally coming home, Tony. I belong here. I’m neededhere. It’s dirty and dangerous and so fucking what if there’s a guy in aBat suit running around kicking the shit out of criminals? It’s my city,so no. I’m not going anywhere.”

And Tony just blinksdown at him for long moments, this scene so painfully familiar from their daysof arguing back and forth during his “internship” with Stark Medical. It hadn’ttaken him long to understand what needed to be done to make someone like TonyStark change his mind.

Get all up in his faceand drop some truth bombs.

“I really, really hatethis,” Tony finally replies flatly, but his eyes are scrunched in amusement.

“I know. If I ever dowant to leave it behind, then you know the first place I’m going to go,” Timcomes back more gently, giving Tony a smirk.

Even though he’sobvious not happy about it, some of the pissed off fades out of Tony’sstiff posture. “Promise me, Drake. No one gets to kill you before I pick yourbrain about the neuro-stimulation device we’re working on.”

And with the obviouspun, he leans over laughing until his damn leg starts to ache and Tony has tohold him up by the arm so he doesn’t fall over.

**

The very impressiveRolls Royce greets Dr. Stark when he finally makes his way out the front doorsto attempt finding some palatable coffee.

The older man waitingby the passenger-side door is familiar enough that a smile cuts across Tony’sface.

“Alfred! Long time, nosee.” He smirks at the irony since his “visits” to Gotham didn’t alwayscoordinate with Pepper’s insistence he at least be in the city for SMbusiness.

“Master Stark, apleasure to see you again, Sir.”

“Always. Let me guess.You have some incredible coffee in there waiting for me?”

“Of course, Sir. Flavoredjust how you prefer.”

“You are a master ofall things, Alfred. Don’t even let Bruce tell you any differently.”

“I shall remind him atevery opportunity. However, you may do me a service and tell him yourself,”Alfred opened the back door with a slight flourish to show the billionairehimself sitting in the back, drinking from a thick, glass tumbler.

“Aw, Bruce, is that autility belt under your shirt or are you just happy to see me?”

The surgeon foldshimself down to get in, eyes sparkling for the slight scowl on his old friend’sface. He pays little attention to Alfred getting back in the driver’s seat andstarting the car. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you didn’t trust me inyour city.”

Tony stick up hispointer fingers at the side of his head, wiggling them to mimic the ears on theside of the cowl.

He’s smiling likecrazy when B just rolls his eyes and takes a deep pull from the tumbler.“You’re early, even after you’ve been running the gambit at your facility andStark Industries for the past few weeks. Forgive me for being curious.”

“I had to see anotherdoctor about a job prospect.”

“The doctor we have amutual interest in?”

“That would be theone. Next time he needs to be saved, leave the tights at home. Don’t you have aWE helicopter for a reason?”

“And exactly how wouldI explain that one away?”

“You have PR people,Bruce, let them have a field day with ‘rich socialite accidentally savespeople on a crumbling bridge.’”

“That would make morework for me as Bruce Wayne. Batman is a better figurehead for that kind ofthing.”

“Figurehead? Oh,you mean the persona you’ve gone to great lengths to hide as some kindof myth or urban legend all these years? That guy just suddenly shows up in thedaytime?”

“He’s beenphotographed before, Tony. Sometimes even with other superheroes, likeSuperman and Wonder Woman. All drawback of being on a team.”

“Teams are wonderfulthings, Bruce.

“Says you.”

And from a pocket inthe door, Bruce finally has a little bit of mercy on the overworked genius bypulling out a warm travel mug with the Batman logo on the front.

Tony laughs maniacallyfor long, painful moments, earning another eye-roll. The contents, however, arejust as Alfred promised: full of caffeine and just as tasty.

After a long moment ofsatisfaction, Tony lays his head back on the cushy seat and just sighs.

“You’re pushingyourself too hard,” Bruce admonishes gently. “I’m going to send the WE chopperto pick up Jim and Steve instead.”

That wakes him up.

“Don’t you even dare,B. I’ll never forgive you.”

“I’ve made worseenemies.”

Tony doesn’t snortcoffee up his nose, but really, it’s a close thing.

“You obviously can’ttake care of yourself,” Bruce is his usual brusk, no-nonsense about it, butTony can see there’s already some kind of plan in the making. “I can seewhy the two of them have such a hard time with you.”

“Says the guy thatneeded an emergency arthroscopy for meniscus tears.”

“Then I guess I’m verylucky you were in town.”

Tony hums, but hiseyes are sparkling. “How is the knee doing by the way?”

“It hurts when I breaksomeone’s jaw. Other than that, it’s fine.” And because it’s Bruce, he wavesit away without a second thought.

Tony hums again, buthis eyes go down to the knee in question.

Bruce sips his drinkagain while Alfred continues driving and Tony makes him wait for it.

Finally, once they’repassing the old Mylar building, B looks at him head-on, “all right. What did hehave to say?”

Trying not to grin,Tony shrugs a shoulder, “you’ve got nothing to worry about. Drake is staying inGotham, even with the more-than-generous offer I’ve made him. Believe me, B,I’m not happy about it, but he doesn’t seem too keen on leaving Mercy General.”

And as Tony is well-awarein their long and industrious friendship, the real Bruce Wayne is like a closedbook, doesn’t let even the smallest twitch break his facade (well, except infront of his boys, which is when BatDad makes an appearance), but thesigns of relief are really hard to miss for someone that literally kept B’sright arm moving after that rotator cuff injury.

“Dick and Jay will behappy to hear that, I suppose.” Tony observes with false cheer becausehonestly, who wouldn’t put two and two together at this juncture.

(Bruce isn’t the onlydetective. As a surgeon, Tony has to deduce with little evidence, so it’s notreally a shocker to find out the vigilantes have a doctor for a sweetie. Smartmove all around.)

“…yes, they will.Tim…?”

“He didn’t have to.You just told me yourself, Mr. Wayne.”

At the frown, Tonygives himself a mental point. The day he can get one up on the Batman is reallya day he needs to remember.

“All right, fine. Jayand Dick might have mentioned he’s been getting attention outside Gotham. I’vealready taken some steps to try making it seem like staying in the city mightbe a better deal.”

And Tony’s jaw drops,“you’ve been trying to get Mercy to partner with WE! That’s why they aren’tplaying nice with Pepper! Bruce, you devil.”

“Demon, actually, ifyou believe the stories,” and now it’s Bruce smirking into his tumbler. “We’lltalk more about it over dinner. Besides, the Batcomputer is on the fritz again.You can dazzle me over filet mignon.”

“Flatterer. How can Ipossibly say no?”

Bruce taps theintercom to tell Alfred they’re ready to go back to the Manor and Dr. Starkwill be joining them for the evening. Alfred gives him an affirmative and the planis set into motion. If there just happens to be a comfortable surfacefor Tony to pass out on during the visit, well, the pictures for Jim and Stevewould be well-worth the effort.

**

The conversation withTony didn’t end well, leaving him with a mental hangover by the time his shiftis finally over.

Night hadn’t startedbreaking away into dawn yet, so he’s still walking by dark alleys where thestreet lights are flickering.

He gets out a, “whatthe fuck–!?” before he’s just suddenly swept up off his feet by a strongarm holding him up hundreds of feet in the air.

Really, he should beused to things like this by now.

Robin undoubtedly givesno shits about how tight he’s holding onto the doctor or, the obviousdifferences in their height as punctuated by the botched landing, putting himliterally on his ass.

“Wow, thanks for the warning,Rob. I really didn’t need legs anyway.”

In some way that mightactually show he’s sorry, Robin bends down to pick up the cane and handsit over so Tim can get back on his feet.

“Alright, what’s goingon? Where are you hurt?” He doesn’t bother with niceties, just grips Robin bythe bicep and turns him, uses the cane to hold the cape out of the way. “Pleasetell me no one stabbed you because wouldn’t that just be ironic?”

He sees no blood ortorn suit. Takes a second look just to make sure.

Robin, in a creepyparody of his conversation with Tony earlier in the evening, is silent.

“Rob? Robin, what isit?”

A litany of oh shitruns through his brain pain in the form of toxins, mind control, and bloodborne pathogens (oh my).

“I have beeninformed,” the youngest vigilante starts slowly, “you are considering other opportunitiesoutside of Gotham, Drake.”

He blinks once. Doesit again while staring down at the whiteouts.

“Opportunities? Rob–Dami,what are you talking about?”

“Facilities are vyingfor you, offering you more advantages than any in Gotham possibly could.I understand the temptation of such offers–”

“Whoa, what? Wait aminute. Just. Wait.”

“However,” Robin goeson, his tone low in the night, “I am here to offer you a bargain.”

And that in no waywhatsoever sound anything less than ominous. Like, ‘I’ll promise not to takeout your spleen’ kind ominous.

He leans down a littleso the crime fighter doesn’t have to look up at him, “First: yes, I’ve gottensome job offers. It’s nice they’re thinking of me, really, but those offers arebased off a one-time emergency incident, not because they’ve seen me inaction or know anything about my…hobbies. They’re not offering a jobto me, Dami. Do you get that?”

The ensuing silenceand Bat-stillness are signs of the younger processing.

“Besides, I choseto come back to Gotham when I could have gone pretty much anywhere after myinternship with Stark Medical. You have no idea how many places wantedme on staff after I survived Tony Stark. If I wanted a job outside of the city,I could have had it in spades. The point is I chose to be here. I wantedto stay, and that? Isn’t going to change, okay? No bargains, no threats,nothing. I’m not leaving–”

He stops himselfbefore saying I’m not leaving Dick and Jay because really, he isnot, repeat Not talking to Dami about his relationship. Poor kid mightbe traumatized for life, so nope, not happening.

(Their last littleconvo to the vibe of ‘harm my brother and I shall eviscerate you per one ofyour textbooks. I shall do it slowly and methodically. Your screams would nottrouble me’ turned into a pretty good discussion on the best possiblescenario in effectively ripping someone’s spine out. His argument against thelogistics of it had spurned Robin out of the killing mood).

The obvious relief inthe small crime fighter is right there in how his shoulders sag just slightly.

“So, you’re going tohave to put up with me saving your ass when you do stupid shit like take on anarmy of zombified Jokers without backup.”

“Then…I shall haveno other option but to deal with your meddling when necessary,” the youngerwaves off his concern, but a corner of his mouth is tilted up just enough tonotice.

**

It’s really nice ofDami to drop him off on his fire escape. Walking would have been fine, but whenyou can travel Air-Robin, well, why not?

He pushes his windowup and gingerly eases in, maneuvering the cane to steady his leg. Hands are onhim before his head is inside and he wacks himself a good one in surprise.

Dick is smiling gentlydown at him, still gripping his elbow to steady him.

“That sounded like ithurt,” is a failed attempt at a joke because the mirth doesn’t reach the darkblue of Dick’s eyes.

Oh. OH. Welp, that’swhere Dami got this nonsense from, is it?

His stern lecture isgoing to have to wait for at least one cup of half-way decent coffee because hereally need to wind it up so the message hits home.

Jay is already there,his chair pulled out from the kitchen table and the pot filled with somethingdarker than the night.

“Hi honey,” he tiredlycalls, “did my boys have a good time kicking the shit out of bad guys tonight?”

Making grabby hand athim, Dick is one of his hugging moods, and pretty much lifts him off hisfeet to nuzzle/carry him to the table where blessed coffee awaited. Fine.Lecture pending.

He gets a last goodnuzzle to the face before the smell of pizza hits and a plate appears in frontof him. Jason leans down to blow a breath across his jugular before his mouthpresses just enough to be a kiss, the usual effect takes his nerve endings up anotch or two before the tease pulls away.

The three of them eatin sluggish silence, the strain of their night jobs hitting a little close tohome. The call of a communal shower and their large, comfortable bed a siren’ssong to the over-worked, sleep-deprived do-gooders.

But Tim knows them bynow, knows what’s already running them further down.

Through the last yearof their relationship, they’d already been through the whole we’re puttingyou in danger just by being with you argument.

Yes, yes it possiblywas.

Yes, he is fullyaware.

Yes, he can make hisown choices fuck you very much.  Apparently, his no, not changing mymind is going to come out for a second time tonight.

“Robin picked me up onthe way home,” he starts out while the two of them are finishing up and lookingless likely to start up arguing before he’s made his point.

“Dami was still out?”

“What? Baby Bat ain’tget enough in that warehouse down on 23rd?”

Tim finishes off hiscoffee and finally sets his eyes on first Jason and then Dick. “Going to ask mewhat he wanted?”

Both crime fighters gostill, doing that eye slide thing they can still pull off with a domino andhelmet.

“Lay it on us,Timmers.”

“He pretty much askedwhat offer I was accepting for some mystery job half a continent away,”and now he’s glaring, eyes narrowing when Dick looks quickly away and Jasonsits back with a tense jaw jutting out.

“Which is absolutelyfucking ridiculous considering I like right where the hell I am.Where could he have heard such a thing, I wonder?”

Oh yeah, that’s Dick’sguilty expression.

“It’s fine if theywant to offer me a position, but the nice thing about it is that I can politelydecline, you know.”

“Top twenty facilitiesin the world, Timmy?” Dick’s voice is softer than he’d like, shakingly unsurefor a vigilante that literally risks his life every night to keep peoplehe doesn’t even know safe. “That’s not something to take…lightly.”

His mouth drops openwith an are you even kidding me?

“‘Sides,” Jayintejects without really looking at him, “ain’t like this is the fucking centero’ the world fer a fella like you, Sweets. Smart, sassy, moves like yerass is on fucking fire when someone’s on the line. Ya got moreguts than anyone outta the cape I ever met.”

“Gotham doesn’t haveto be the hill you die on,” Dick picks up, looking down into the sludge left atthe bottom of his coffee mug, “we would absolutely understand andsupport you if you even wanted to look into any of these places–”

“Even go ta seewhatcha might be lookin’ at,” Jay shrugs indifferently, “make sure ya’d findsomewhere safe ta build a nest.”

“The kind oftechnology they could offer you would be, like, ground-breaking stuff and…andGotham just can’t give you that, Tim.”

“No motherfuckersgonna break inta yer shit, I guaran-fucking-tee ya on that.”

“It’s not just beingin the ER or in surgery, it’s moving up to management or teaching or being afull-time researcher with grants and–and everything.”

“Make a safe routethere n’ back, you feel me? Me n’ Dickie’ll scope it out a few days, check the scene.”

“We would never wantto hold you back, baby. Not when the only thing Gotham has to offer you isexploding bridges and insane mad men that kidnap you and ninjas that are readyto attack at any second, and…and Timmy, you could never be safe, notreally, not here. Not even with us and B and Dami and everyone else,it’ll never be completely safe for you.”

“But fucking believeit, Timmers, we’ll make any place ya wanna lay yer head down as safe as wecan, yeah?”

“We…we love you, andwe want the best for you.”

“If leavin’ is what’sbest, Sweets, then we’ll make it fucking happen.”

It’s DIck’s voicecracking and Jay’s shiny, averted eyes that end it for him right then andthere.

He shoves himself upfrom the table abruptly, a jarring motion. The sound of the chair fallingbackwards a loud clatter against the softness of their voices. He keeps a handon the table top to walk around the damn thing and almost strangle Jason bylooping an arm around the base of his throat and pull the Red Hood into hischest. He holds out his other hand to Dick, glaring with the best of hisabilities.

It’s a tremulous thingwhen Dick rises tiredly out of his seat and takes that hand, lets Tim pull himover and secure the both of them to him.

“I’m going to say thisbecause it’s obvious the two of you are too tired to use your detective skillsfor anything more than superficial clues.”

Slowly, Jay’s face isin his stomach, arms wrapping around his waist while Dick secures his chest,the two of them almost holding him up.

“After all thefighting I’ve had to do to get here, to get this far, I’m not giving up jackshit. I run the gauntlet because that exactly where I want to be. I staywith my people because that’s my fucking team and no, I don’t wantor need another. I can watch Layla grow up into this kick ass little person andmake sure Steph has someone to Netflix and chill with while we kill a pint ofBen & Jerry’s. But what matters the most, what I can’t fucking give upis being here with the two of you in whatever capacity I can. Asyour boyfriend, as your surgeon, as the guy that is totally, you know, inlove with you. As someone that can share your lives like this. All of it isexactly what I want and what I get to choose. You two? Don’t get to tellme what’s best for me. I decide that. Got it?”

The quiet, still menattached to him give half-shuffling nods where they’re buried in him.

“I don’t want to hearanything else about leaving Gotham, like at all, okay? The answer is no.I’m not going anywhere to tour the facilities or listen to stupid speechesabout what they have to offer or how good the benefits package is. None of thatshit. They can’t offer me my ER, they can’t offer me time doing research in theBatCave, they can’t let me play around with alien DNA for a minute, and theycan’t give me you two. So? No. Case closed.”

Dick lets up justenough for him to tilt Jay’s head back and lean down to slide their lipstogether, giving the Red Hood a little something to seal the deal. Those eyesare bluer when he pulls back, making him smirk before he straightens up to giveDick the same treatment.

(Because they’re bothtall, he has to pull them down to effectively fuck his tongue in their mouths.Such a pain in the ass.)

When he pulls back,Dick gasps in a little, tightens his hold around Tim’s chest.

But the reliefpervades the air between them, giving him a reason to go a little more lax,just to feel them pretty much ready to hold him up completely.

“So the plan is,”he continues easily, one hand on the back of Jay’s neck to rub the tensionaway, and the other gripping Dick’s wrist tight enough to bruise tomorrow, “weget a nice, hot shower with plenty of scrubbing and maybe a little play time.Then, we climb in bed and pass the fuck out. You can fix your suits tomorrow,and we’ll all feel up to having dangerous acrobatic vigilante sex after about eight hours. If you’re both good,I’ll…I’ll wear that thing you got me for my birthday. Deal?”

He knows he’s alreadygot their acquiescence when both his boyfriends noticeably perk.

“That sounds like adeal to me,” Dick tries to be mock-grave, but he’s laughing in the back ofTim’s neck, running his nose over the knob of bone.

“Fucking righteous,Sweetheart. I been waiting ta see that.” Jay is grinning up at him with thatlook– all kinds of anticipation without any of the previous hesitation.

“Good. Peel yourselvesoff of me and lets get naked. For mostly clean purposes. Or not. Really, I’mpretty beyond compromised, so I’d probably like to make you both come at leastonce before I’m unconscious.”

“Sweet-talker,” Dickteases and steps to the side so he can be the first to lift their civilianboyfriend up in a princess hold that has become way too reminiscent in the pasttwo months.

“He’s just talkin’ my language, ‘at’s all, Baby Boy,” Jaystands to give him a fast n’ dirty before he gets their mugs to the sink andfills them with water to wash tomorrow. He hits the lights and follows his boysdown the hallway where slippery skin and things like I’m not giving upare waiting.

[fanficsandfluff]

The Avengers: Comfort, Dance, Fireplace

A fantastic three-word request from @theart-ofsimpleimaginaton 

Winteriron has been her recent obsession, and it’s been my own for a long damn time. I just never had the right content to write really good fics. This isn’t my first winteriron, but this is definitely one of the longest fics I’ve written in a long time. Hope you enjoy!

Words: 3,493

“Hey you,” Tony Stark greeted with a sly smile, waltzing into the rec room to see only Bucky sitting with the television on.

Bucky was sitting with his legs crossed, hair up in a bun, his metal arm draped over the back of the couch. Ultimate comfort position. He turned his head suddenly upon hearing Tony’s voice, a strand of dark hair falling in his face having lost its security in his bun.

“Hi, Tony,” Bucky smiled softly back at the billionaire.

Tony glanced at the TV screen when he walked in and he plopped down directly next to Bucky, ignoring literally every other empty seat in the room.

“What’s this? One of those CIA, FBI shows?”

Bucky felt a blush rise to his cheeks. He shouldn’t be embarrassed about his likes and dislikes, but something about impressing Tony stuck out to him.

“Yeah,” he answered simply, not wanting to draw more attention to the show or his uncomfortable expression.

Tony got comfortable, leaning back into the plush couch, thigh to thigh with the Winter Soldier. Bucky instinctively jerked his thigh away when he felt the touch, but let it fall back into its previous position. Silence. Just great.

Bucky was starting to realize this show’s faults more and more the longer he sat there under Tony’s scrutinizing eyes. He eventually couldn’t take it anymore and he stood up with a quick clearing of his throat.

“Sorry, I gotta.. Here, put on what you want,” Bucky tossed the remote to Tony before leaving in a rush.

Tony looked mildly offended when he caught the remote to his chest.

“Was it something I said?” Tony inquired somewhat innocently, truly not knowing what made Bucky leave so fast. He sat and thought, not changing the channel. As a commercial blared in the background, Tony figured out that he’d never exactly been alone with Bucky before. He’d always been with the group in communal settings. Was Bucky avoiding him? He hoped he knew all that crap was behind them. Bucky shouldn’t be afraid to be near him, even one-on-one. The billionaire playboy let it go for now, stepping out of the rec room. Nothing interesting to do in there anyway.

Bucky had gone off to his room to change into another set of comfortable clothes, ready to head to the gym. It was always his relief when he didn’t feel 100% great. He wrapped up his hand, clad in loose shorts and a tank top. Bucky felt lucky seeing that he was also alone in the gym. He set to work first stretching.

Tony was on his way back to the lab when he passed by the gym. He backtracked and looked at who was actually inside. Upon seeing Bucky, Tony figured a change of plan.

Bucky finished stretching and then moved to lifting weights. He didn’t have a spotter but he figured he didn’t need one.

About ten reps in, a whistle alerted Bucky to someone else’s presence. He set the weight down and turned around, chest heaving from his workout.

“Wow, what’re you benching? 300?”

“335,” Bucky wiped sweat from his brow.

Tony smirked, “You looked kinda lonely in here. I figured I’d stop by and join you. Give you a friend.”

Bucky sighed and he shrugged, “Yeah, whatever you want,” he went to the mats next and started a string of pushups. Tony watched Bucky for a half a second, knowing those flexing back and shoulder muscles were giving him some type of feeling. He ignored it best he could and walked to the treadmill. He never used the damn treadmill. Well, in front of Bucky he did.

They shared a silence, Tony at a simple jog and Bucky grunting with each new pushup.

“Barnes,” Tony began through a pant, “Do I rub you the wrong way or something?”

Bucky fell to his knees and he coughed once, turning over and sitting down, looking in Tony’s direction, “What do you mean?”

“You know,” Tony slowed the speed on the treadmill to a quick walk, “You don’t look super comfortable around me.”

Bucky blushed and he ran fingers through his mop of hair, “What gave you that idea, Tony?”

Tony hopped off the treadmill and approached Bucky, “Oh you know. Wanting to immediately leave the room when I walk in. Not wanting to be alone with me. Just things like that.”

The Winter Soldier tried coming up with an answer, “It isn’t... it’s not you.”

“No? Then what?”

“Tony, please don’t make me--”

“What don’t you like?”

“The way you act,” Bucky blurted out, afraid to look up at Tony standing over him.

“Oh...”

“You’re very uh... touchy. I understand if that’s your personality, but I respect boundaries and you less so.”

“You don’t like my acting comfortable around you?”

“That isn’t what I meant.”

“Hey, you should be honored I’m acting the way I do around you, Barnes. Tony Stark doesn’t open up to everyone.”

Bucky chanced a glance up and he was met with Tony’s hurt brown eyes, “I... so... you weren’t trying to annoy me? Purposely? That was you being genuine?”

Tony rolled his eyes and he scoffed, “Jesus, if you have that little faith in me, guess we’ll have to loosen you up a bit, huh?” he chewed on his lip in thought, “Tell you what, tonight. Me and you. We’re going out.”

“O-Out?” Bucky sputtered, now frantically trying to stand up, “Tony, I don’t exactly go out--”

“It’ll be our little date,” Tony winked at the Winter Soldier, “Meet me downstairs at 7, kay, buttercup?” now he was pouring it on overload.

Bucky’s mouth was agape and he was too stunned to combat anything Tony said. And before he knew it, Tony was gone. 

***

Bucky didn’t know what kind of outing he would be having with Tony. But he did know Tony Stark was one to dress up unnecessarily for most occasions. So the Winter Soldier enlisted Steve’s help in lending him some clothes. Steve was able to provide Bucky with a pair of dress shorts and a big dress shirt in order for it to fit over his bulky metal arm. 

“So a date, huh?” Steve grinned at his friend while fixing his collar. 

“That’s what Tony called it. I think he just wanted to hang out with me.”

Steve smiled, “Well, I hope he doesn’t annoy you too much, Buck,” he slapped Bucky’s shoulder with a chuckle. 

Bucky smiled weakly back at Steve and looked at himself in the mirror. He thought he looked pretty snazzy. He just had to do something about his hair. He ventured back to his own room and tied his hair back into a bun best he could, trying to get all those loose strands.  Once he felt he was presentable, he went downstairs to wait for Tony. He prayed none of the other Avengers saw him like this, or he’d die from embarrassment. 

Tony came down five minutes later, in his two piece suit and slightly open button down shirt. Bucky was dressed similarly minus the suit jacket. 

Tony had to pause and then he chuckled, stepping forward. He was eyeing Bucky up and down, “You clean up good, Barnes.”

“So do you. So, where are we going?” 

“All in due time,” Tony got inside the limo waiting for them and Bucky followed. He looked out the window at the bright night lights of Manhattan. Nothing was quite like it to him and it still impressed him after all these years. 

The limo drove on in silence for the entirety of the ride. Bucky had leaned his head against the window and nearly dozed off before he felt the car stop moving. Tony slid out first and waited for Bucky to exit with him. They were in front of a fancy looking restaurant. 

Bucky shifted nervously, knowing nothing good can come out of him eating in a public place looking like he did. He was so changed, and it killed him. Where was his macho, stud persona? The implantation of a new metal limb and years of brainwashing could destroy a man, apparently. 

“Welcome, Mr. Stark. I have your area all set up for you,” a woman who seemed to be the manager of the establishment greeted Tony. And Bucky followed them both into... an elevator? Geez, how big was this place?

They went up about 10 stories and then got off, walking through an empty ballroom before ending up on a balcony. Bucky looked around, smiling softly at the greenery and stone paneled floor in the open summer air. It was beautiful. 

“Here are menus. You’ll have a private server. I hope you enjoy your night.”

And she left. And now it was just Tony, Bucky, one table, and an entire balcony all to themselves. 

“Tony, this is really nice,” Bucky walked up to the edge of the balcony and looked over the gate at the city below them.

“I thought you’d like some privacy. Drink?” Tony came over from a small bar set up outside with them and held two golden drinks in his hands. Bucky nodded and took one, taking a sip. 

Tony smirked, holding his glass out to give cheers but Bucky seemed to just want to drink, “So, how was the rest of your day?”

“Fine,” Bucky nodded, stuffing a portion of his metal hand into his pants pocket. 

“Great. Mine was good, too. Got some upgrades done.”

“Good,” Bucky awkwardly flitted his eyes about before locking them on the dusky night sky. 

Tony took more of his beverage before going over and taking a look at the menus left for them, “Hungry?” man, he was sick of the chit chat. 

“Um, yes,” Bucky walked closer to Tony, “Do they have steak?”

“Some of the best I’ve ever had, yeah,” Tony smiled. 

“Great, I’ll get that.”

Tony shook his head, still grinning. Bucky was something, alright. Tony ordered for himself and Bucky when he summoned a waiter. Small bits of conversation continued, Bucky getting more alcohol for himself. When the food came, Bucky sat across from Tony and they ate. 

Tony could see Bucky’s cheeks staying a light tint of pink, and he smiled at how damn cute that was. The alcohol was probably getting to him and it showed in his face. It failed to show in his mannerisms yet. Yet. 

“How’s the ste--” Tony didn’t let himself finish when he saw Bucky’s plate empty save for one small chunk of beef. And when he looked up, he saw Bucky’s cheeks puffed out, a bit of steak juice dribbling from the corner of his mouth. Tony laughed. 

Bucky swallowed and wiped his mouth with a napkin, “What?”

“Nohothing. I got my answer.”

Bucky smiled softly and he downed his third glass of hard liquor. He coughed after.

“Are you trying to get drunk, Barnes?”

“I can’t,” Bucky shrugged.

Tony remembered that little affliction Steve had and forgot it was shared between both super soldiers. 

“Oh right,” Tony cleared his throat, “So, anything you do for fun? Does the Winter Soldier even know how to have a good time?”

Bucky grinned, “That would require a lot more alcohol.”

“Then allow me to pour you another drink,” Tony took the bottle of whiskey they’d been sharing and poured Bucky another small glass. 

Bucky hummed and huffed a chuckle, downing that easily, cringing afterwards. Tony smiled at him and had no shame in staring at him for a few extra seconds. 

Bucky shut his eyes and swayed in his chair slowly, Tony noting he was moving in sync with the slow music floating from inside the building. He bit his lip while considering what he was about to do. Screw it, he could get away with it. He was Tony Stark. 

The billionaire tugged on Bucky’s arm, “Alright, get up.”

Bucky rose a brow but stood, “Did I do something wrong?”

“I’m gonna teach you a thing or two about having a good time,” Tony looked up at the slightly taller man. He pulled Bucky in by his waist and entangled his fingers in Bucky’s. The Winter Soldier was at a loss for words, but he could’ve sworn Tony started dancing with him. 

Bucky had no choice but to move in tandem with Tony. 

“Loosen up,” Tony admonished, giving Bucky’s waist a gentle squeeze, “You’re stiffer than Cap in the snow.”

Bucky huffed out a genuine laugh at both the comment and at the squeeze aimed at his side. 

Tony saw Bucky’s smile and felt it was time for more drastic measures. He swayed with Bucky more along to the soft tune wafting out from inside. When the music swelled, Tony honest to God dipped the Winter Soldier. Bucky went down with a gasp and he stared up at Tony wide-eyed. 

Tony fell even more for this man, seeing his heated cheeks, wide eyes, and now loose strands of hair falling in front of his face. He pulled him back up, knowing their faces were intentionally closer than before. 

Bucky’s lower lip hung open and a fire lit up in his lower belly. Holy shit no. He couldn’t be falling for Tony Stark, could he? Dammit. 

Tony guided Bucky’s hips as they stepped in time to the music. This was the longest goddamn song in the history of the world. 

“I’m gonna spin you now,” Tony warned. Bucky was still unprepared but flowed as graceful as he could when Tony let him go and spun him on the tips of his fingers. Bucky chuckled softly, embarrassed yes, but also having a damn good time. Tony smiled at Bucky.

“How do you feel?” 

“Great,” Bucky breathed and smiled genuinely. 

Tony heard the music drift off until there was silence and only the noises of New York City with the two of them. 

“James,” Tony used Bucky’s first name instead of his last, “You know when I said this was a date?” 

Bucky stood at arm’s distance apart from Tony, “Yeah? And?”

“Oh it was. It totally was.”

Bucky grinned and he stepped forward, “Do you want to kiss me, Tony?” he asked outright. Tony rose both brows and he grinned almost stupidly. 

“Yeahah. Yeah, very much. I just wanted-- mmph!” 

Bucky pressed his lips to Tony’s before the other could stop him and they meshed together perfectly. They moaned at the same time. Bucky caressed Tony’s arm and slid his hand up until he was cupping his cheek. Tony wrapped both arms around Bucky’s waist. 

Needless to say, they went back to the Towers happy, Tony a bit tipsy and Bucky supportive. 

“Nohoho, let’s not show everyone how drunk you are,” Bucky chuckled as he walked Tony into the elevator and stood as they ascended the many floors of the towers. 

“But why noot?” Tony pouted, “People like me when I’m drunk. ‘M tons of fun.”

Bucky rolled his eyes, “I saw you crazy drunk once and I wasn’t a fan.”

Tony stuck out his lower lip, hurt that Bucky would ever say that. The Winter Soldier carted Tony out of the elevator and walked him to the appropriate bedroom. Stumbling and giggling like kids, they finally arrived at the intended destination. Bucky felt Tony slip off his shoulders and he watched the billionaire genius flop onto the bed and groan. Bucky chuckled, dark locks finally slipping lose from the hair tie and draping the Winter Soldier’s face. 

“Tired?” Bucky asked with a smile. 

“Mmmhm...” Tony grumbled back. 

This was the first time Bucky had been in Tony’s bedroom. And holy crap was it way nicer than his own. He had his own bathroom complete with tub and shower, a small kitchenette, a fireplace, and a huge TV. 

“Alright, well... why don’t we get you more comfortable, hm?” Bucky went by the bed and he bent down, starting to untie Tony’s shoes. He figured the man was too wasted to do it himself. One shoe off, then the other. The problem laid in removing Tony’s suit jacket. 

“Noho! Stohop touchin’ mehehe!” Tony giggled childishly, squirming around whenever Bucky tried slipping the jacket off of him. 

Bucky found it endearing and he scoffed, “Well, what do you want me to do? I’m not even touching you.”

“Yehehes you ahahare,” Tony squeaked when Bucky gave a particularly hard tug. He soon got it off and Bucky wiped his brow.

“Jesus, you’re hard to work with,” Bucky admonished playfully. 

“‘M not. Just a little ticklish,” Tony rolled onto his stomach and hugged a pillow to his face. Bucky’s lip twitched. He walked over to the fireplace and found out how to turn it on so it was soon ablaze. It gave off such a comforting glow and a cozy heat. Bucky turned around to see Tony basically asleep, mouth slightly agape as his breathing became soft. The soldier pouted, not wanting this night to end. 

He tiptoed over and sat on Tony’s bed, gently nudging his back, “Tony. Tony, come on, don’t sleep yet.”

“Mmm..”

Bucky laid down behind the billionaire and nuzzled into the back of his neck. Tony shuddered and a surprised giggle was ripped from his lips. 

“Nohoho...”

“You’re that sensitive?” Bucky tippled his fingers up the bend in Tony’s waist, to which the shorter male yelped and tried curling up. 

“Buhuhucky!” 

Bucky grinned, enjoying Tony’s bubbly laughter probably more than he should. He was able to worm his hand underneath Tony’s partly untucked shirt and scratch away at the soft tummy. Tony was already at the level of cackling, tossing his head back and laughing with pure mirth in his eyes. 

Bucky blamed part of Tony’s extreme ticklishness on the alcohol, but he really hoped this didn’t change things too much. Having Tony this susceptible to even the lightest touches was precious. 

“St-Stop! Stohohop I cahahahahahan’t! B-Buhucky!” Tony wheezed when the tickles went on for too long for him to handle. Bucky left him alone with some remorse, wishing he could hear that laughter forever. 

“Gohohod... is it warm ihin here? Or is it just me?” 

Bucky grinned, “Well, you were just squirming and laughing. But I turned the fireplace on, too. Thought it seemed more romantic.”

Tony calmed down from his giggle fit and he looked at Bucky. He smiled and scooted over, kissing Bucky on the lips, “You’re right. It’s totally romantic. You know what’ll make it even better?”

“Mm? What?” 

“Hearing you laugh,” Tony purred in Bucky’s ear, and even as discombobulated as his drunken self was, Tony was still on top of his tickler game. He laid on top of Bucky and was able to attack his sides with vicious kneads nonstop. 

“AHA!” Bucky squeaked when he first felt those fingers. Steve was the only one who knew he was ticklish and now that became two people to know. Bucky tried to resist squirming, afraid he’d hurt Tony if he swung his metal arm in the wrong way. 

“SHIHIT! Tohohonyyy! Hahahahaha!” Bucky laughed, snorting when Tony really got to massaging his ribs. 

“Got any good spots?” Tony slurred, grinning with his tongue hanging out of his mouth. He explored higher up on Bucky’s ribs and started to notice a pattern. Bucky laughed harder the higher up Tony went, and he seemed to be protecting his underarms at all cost.

To allow him to let his guard down, Tony ceased his wiggling fingers and withdrew them from Bucky entirely. 

Bucky panted, arms falling limp at his sides, “Thihis is so unfair.”

“It will be in a second,” Tony smirked and he dove in, able to stick one hand in Bucky’s armpit and the other as far to the metal arm attachment as possible. And oh what a sweet spot he found in both those areas. Bucky bucked like a bull and screamed. 

“What a ticklish little soldier,” Tony giggled, somehow imagining that to be a real funny line. 

When Bucky begged for Tony to stop, the billionaire did so. He plopped next to Bucky instead of on top of him and smiled broadly at him. 

“J-Jesus... it is hot in here,” Bucky breathed.   

Tony laughed and he started to undress himself, “We can get a bit more comfortable.”

Bucky was wary at first when he saw Tony so willingly get stripped down to his boxers and an undershirt he had on. But the shorter one’s happy face put Bucky at ease, and he soon undressed into his own boxers and tank top undershirt. Clothes tossed to the floor, Tony snuggled up to Bucky. 

“I had a great night,” Bucky whispered and kissed the top of Tony’s head.

“They’re all gonna be great nights now,” was Tony’s response, eyes already shut and ready for sleep. 

Bucky blushed and he giggled to himself. He couldn’t help it. He fell asleep cuddled up to Tony after watching the fire in the fireplace dance around. They were just the right amount of cozy and warm. Things were perfect. 

[daggerzine]

An interview with former Go Betweens bassist Robert Vickers!

To most people Robert Vickers is known as the bass player for Australia’s late, great Go-Betweens, but as you’ll read below he’s done a lot more. The first Go-Betweens record I bought was Tallulah when it came out in 1987 (and from that point I worked my way backwards and got their earlier stuff). The cover showed an arty looking bunch of folks in what looked like an old living room and the guy sitting on the couch with the black hat is Robert Vickers (almost as if he’s saying “You gonna take the picture or what, dude?”). What you’ll read below is that Vickers had gained some notoriety prior to the Go-Betweens when he was playing music as a resident of NYC for the first time. After leaving the Go-Betweens, (after Tallulah) he’d played with a handful of people including the Hamish Kilgour/Lisa Siegel band The Mad Scene (where I first met Rob in person after booking one of their shows in California in 1995). Rob was a great chap and happily answered all of my gushing questions that night. Since then he’s been in the music industry as a publicist for close to two decades (Proxy Media).  He’s a low-key guy who I’m really glad I reached out to for the interview. He’s got some great stories, but you’ve got to read the interview to find them out. So please do. 

 Young n’ snazzy 

What part of Brisbane did you grow up in?

I grew up in the Brisbane suburb of Oxley. It was unfashionably working class but not without charm as it still retained a bit of its rural past in late ‘60s early ‘70s. Ed Keupper of The Saints grew up a few streets away. A number of other bands and musicians from that period also come from the general area.

Was your family supportive of your music? Any musical siblings?

My mother played the piano but that was about all the musical activity at our house. The family was very supportive but they would probably have been supportive of any path I took. I was lucky to have fairly open minded parents. My father once welded the tuning peg of my bass back on after it broke off. You can’t get much more supportive than that.

 Was Brisbane an interesting place to grow up? Could you compare it to any American cities?

At the time I didn’t think it was interesting. It seemed like the ends of the earth. I couldn’t wait to get out. Provincial didn’t begin to describe it. The N.M.E. took a month to arrive by sea mail. There were no restaurants. Well, maybe one or two in the center of the city but that’s it.  It was a cultural desert. It’s a different place now of course. It’s become a very livable city. I’d compare it to Houston in the US; hot and humid, a cattle town. There are similarities to LA as well in that they are both hilly and car dominated with water close by.

 What was the first instrument that you picked up? What bands did you listern to during your teenage years?

The first band I listened to was The Beatles. Our next door neighbors had a wind up record player with steel needles and we played those early singles till they fell apart. I listened mostly to the radio, 60s and 70s top 40, everything from Johnny Horton to David Bowie. When we got a stereo I started buying Bob Dylan’s back catalog second hand. That led to wanting to play the guitar so I got an old nylon string acoustic and strummed away.

 Were The Riptdes your first band? How/when did they begin?

Yes, but we were called The Numbers at that time. After I finished High School I spent all of 1976 working at Woolworths and saved enough money to get out of Brisbane. I went to London and travelled around Europe and North Africa in the beginning of 77. When I got back to London I realized this musical revolution was happening and the fact that The Saints, someone from my own neighborhood was at the forefront of it was really exciting. I wanted to get in a band and be part of it but I had to decide whether to stay in London where so much was happening but I knew no-one and had no job or place to live, or go back to Brisbane where I had heard that a good friend of mine from school was in a band. I felt I had a better chance of getting something started with him so I got on a plane. The band he was in was The Numbers and I soon joined playing bass which of course I had no idea how to do. We recorded a single right away and played around Brisbane. This is where I met Robert and Grant from the Go-Betweens. The Numbers single ’77 Sunset Strip’ came out around the same time as The Go-Betweens ‘Lee Remick’ and I actually took both singles around the southern states of Australia to distribute them to record stores on my vacation.

 The Colors

Is it true that you moved to NYC when you were 19? Were you terrified? Did you have any friends there? What was your first apartment like?

I had actually turned 20 when I arrived in New York in early 1979. The Numbers had kicked me out because they didn’t think I was up to their level of musicianship. This wasn’t so bad because I was sick of Brisbane again and wanted to travel in America on my way back to London. After some interesting adventures in Guatemala and on Greyhounds across the US I ended up in New York. I wasn’t terrified; I had been in Morocco so I had some experience with dangerous places. I had a place to stay short term and planned to see something of the CBGB’s/Max’s music scene I had been reading about in the NME, then head off to London. The second night I was there I went by myself to CB’s to see the band DNA and by the end of a very long night I was in a band called The Colors and had a place to live. The apartment was a $30 a month storefront without a shower or bathtub on Rivington St just off The Bowery. This was before it was a bad drug block but still a place you had to have your guard up at all times.

 Tell me about The Colors? How did they form? Did they have big fan base?

I don’t think The Colors had played live before I joined them, just practiced. The guitarist Paul was technically way ahead of anyone I had even seen play before but ate nothing but Aspirin and Coke-a-Cola and listened to Eno and Kraftwerk. The singer Tommy was from the projects downtown and worshipped The Bay City Rollers. It was a strange mixture. We got a drummer from the storefront across the street and started playing. Paul and I wrote the songs and what came out was pop punk; fast, short and melodic. We developed a fan base of mostly teenage Manhattan girls. They were an interesting bunch coming from families of actors, artists, film directors, diplomats and real estate tycoons.

 More Colors 

Did you spend a lot of time at CBGB’s and/or or Max’s Kansas City during those days?

We first played at club called Tier 3 in Soho. We got a couple of shows at CBs and Max’s but then the owner of CBs, Hilly Kristal, took an interest in us. Also the drummer from Blondie, Clem Burke saw us and wanted to produce a record. So with Hilly managing us and Clem producing we soon had an indie label winning to put out a single. We then played CBs a lot and as we got free drinks there it became our second home. I went there almost every night for years and saw literally thousands of bands. As we were one of Hilly’s bands Max’s stopped booking us much but we still went there a lot. It was within walking distance so it was possible to go back and forth on the same night. CBs was a friendlier and more down home, Max’s was the remnants of the New York Dolls scene with a dash of Warhol still wafting around.

 What do you remember most about NYC in those days?

Downtown was pretty deserted. Not just Tribeca and Soho but even the East Village was very quiet. Not a lot of people on the streets day or night.

 Go-Betweens with Rob on the left.

Had you known Grant and Robert before you joined the Go-Betweens?  If so how?

I was there the first night they played in public. They asked if they could play a few songs and a drummer from another band sat in with them. I think they played Lee Remick and 8 Pictures. It was pretty stunning so I had to talk to them. I saw a lot of them around that time and later Grant visited me for a wild month when I was living in New York.

 How did you come to be in the Go-Betweens? They were in London at the time, right?

I was playing with the Colors in New York and had brought a friend from Brisbane, Peter Milton Walsh over to play guitar in that band. The Colors were coming to an end and one day Peter said he was going to move to London to play bass with The Laughing Clowns and suggested I should contact The Go-Betweens because they might be looking for a bass player too. So I did.

 Another Go-Betweens pic with Rob 3rd from left. 

I’ve seen in interviews where Robert described those years in London as being very difficult. Was it the same for you?

London was tough. We were always short of money and the bleak weather didn’t help. It was a hard life living out of a suitcase for years at a time. We got away to Australia on tour which kept us going and the proximity of Europe was a plus but the living conditions in London were basic at best.

 Why/when did you leave the Go-Betweens?

At the end of 1987 we finished the US tour in New York and I stayed. I was worn out by five years of touring and wanted a permanent address for a while. I knew The Go-Betweens was always going to be Robert and Grant’s band, I was happy with my contribution but felt it was time to move on. It was a tough decision.

 Was it after you left the Go-Betweens that you decided to move back to NYC? If so when was that?

In my last year in the Go-Betweens I was essentially commuting between London and New York. Whenever we had downtime I would fly one of those cheap ‘80s airlines back to New York. The feeling in the band in 1987 was that we should move from London to Sydney for the next record. I could see the sense in that but my girlfriend was in New York and I couldn’t commute between Sydney and New York

 The Mad Scene- Rob’s go the shades on. 

I met you when you were with the Mad Scene. How did you join that band?

I met Hamish Kilgour, the drummer of New Zealand band The Clean and he had a band in New York called The Mad Scene and it just seemed like a good fit so I joined them. We got a deal with Merge and made a couple of what I think are very good albums. It was a good experience with both the band and Merge.

 In between leaving the Go-Betweens and joining Mad Scene were you still playing music?

Yes, I had toured with Lloyd Cole and Yo La Tengo and done some recording with various people like Spike Priggen (Dumptruck) and Malcolm Ross (Josef K, Orange Juice). Nothing had been quite right though.  The Mad Scene was more what I was looking for especially as I was getting some of my own songs done. However I may have been spoiled by having been in The Go-Betweens. Robert and Grant were extraordinary songwriters who allowed me a lot freedom in what I played. As a musician to get that kind of freedom to work on songs of that quality was unusual and unlikely to happen again. The other thing was that my songwriting output which had been quite high prior to The Go-Betweens had dropped away to very little. That was a creative problem I wasn’t sure how to solve.

 Rob playing with Lloyd Cole. 

How did you begin doing publicity? Did you think you’d still be doing it all these years?

When I left The Go-Betweens I found that New York had become more expensive and I would have to get an actual job. The only other thing I’d done besides play in a band was travel so started to work in travel part time while still playing with various bands as I have mentioned. After about ten years of this I realized I wasn’t really interested in being a full time musician for hire and I wasn’t going to be able to support myself in an indie rock band so I decided I should work in the music industry where I had more interest and connections than I had in the travel industry. Lloyd Cole had a friend who had a label in New York called Jetset Records and he introduced us. I went to work there and just fell into doing publicity. I liked doing it so eventually I left the label and started my own company. I’ve got to help out with so many great releases over the years I’m glad I have been able to keep doing it even as the money has gradually leaked out of the music industry.

 Are you playing in any bands these days?

No, I haven’t for a long time. I did play with Lindy and Amanda from the Go-Betweens at an awards show in Brisbane a couple of years ago so I keep my hand in, but nothing regular. I think bands are only great when everybody is fully committed and I can’t do that anymore. I was never very good at the ‘playing in five bands at once’ thing that some people do.

 Do you get recognized on the streets of NYC on occasion?

Only by the few friends I have left who still live in the East Village!

 What are your top 10 desert island discs?

The Saints – I’m Stranded

Dusty Springfield - Dusty in Memphis

Blondie – Blondie

Sarah Vaughan - Sassy

Bob Dylan – Bringing it All Back Home

Bob Dylan – Highway 61 Revisited

Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds – The Good Son

Roxy Music – For Your Pleasure

The Ramones – The Ramones

The Supremes – Where Did Our Love Go

 Any closing words/ Final thoughts? Anything you wanted to mention that I didn’t ask?

No, I think you covered it! I do want to mention that a feature length Go-Betweens documentary directed by Kriv Stenders is going to premiere at the Sydney Film Festival in June.

[thewinterstardust]

Ten song shuffle+explanation tag thing !!

I was tagged by the ever snazzy @itsabeautifulmidnight thank you for thinking of me !!

‘The rules are to shuffle w/e music thing you use and list the first ten songs that come up with explanations about why you like it and your fave lyrics and so on. then you have to tag ten people :) ‘

I tag @owls-on-pointe @cosmicbattalion @lewisxharold @qiaocake1 @sachlockk @zaida-stardust @ngannn @the-real-conoman @sarahtlou @uhmfox its like,,, effort so don’t feel obliged to do anything tho

Lee did a read more thing which is probably a good idea I’m gonna do that too because I’ve basically written a novel for song 9 tbh 

So I’m shuffling my playlist of practically everything I like, which I title ‘The Master Playlist’ (if you wanna find it on spotify my username is spiritojaz !!)

Song 1- Got My Mind Set On You- George Harrison

How I first heard it: I think I heard it without realising at some point but I only actually listened and gave it some thought a few months ago when the music video popped up on my twitter feed as part of someone’s thread of favourite songs

Favourite lyrics: how about ‘I got my mind set on you’ seeing as it does make up about 60% of the lyrical substance to the song... I guess it gets the message of the track across,,,

Why I like it: nothin beats spicy syncopation !! its just really pleasant and cute

Song 2- Look Back in Anger- David Bowie

How I first heard it: I think it came up in the youtube suggestions and because we were studying Look Back in Anger in english at school at the time I was like omg I must listen to this

Favourite lyrics: ‘no one seemed to hear him so he leafed through a magazine, and yawning, rubbed the sleep away’ because damn relatable and it sounds really funny when david sings it with such boredom and hatred

Why I like it: okay LISTEN UP BABES if you’re gonna take one thing from reading all this its that you should listen to this song because personally I believe its one of the best if not the best bowie track... the sounds are just amazing alright 

Song 3- Heaven Help Us- My Chemical Romance 

How I first heard it: you can’t be complete mcr trash for a prolonged period of time without listening to the b sides okay

Favourite lyrics: ‘I’ve been sprawled on these cathedral steps while spitting out the blood and screaming someone save us’, the words fill your mouth with bitterness and desperation and there is such strong imagery I adore it all 

Why I like it: the harmonies in the choruses are really nice and its such a passionate reach of despair I just really appreciate the song 

Song 4- Killer Queen- Queen 

How  first heard it: I’m not sure? I think it might have been when I discovered my(former) singing teacher was in We Will Rock You in London and I decided to up my queen game? it might have been before then? who knows?

Favourite lyrics: ‘perfume came naturally from paris’ just because that’s so extra and I’d be lying if I didn’t want to give off that vibe, you know how someone would assume the perfume came naturally from paris because I’m jazmin

Why I like it: its just so evocative and suggestive? the singing of ‘queen’ in the chorus is so snazzy and it just might be my favourite song by queen??

Song 5- Feelgood By Numbers- The Go! Team 

How I first heard it: probably in the car with my dad, he used to play the CD of the album (thunder, lightning, strike)to my brother and I when we were very young(but I have mentally reclaimed the album from him because I don’t like associating things with him t b h)

Favourite lyrics: its instrumental bar the ‘one two three four’ at the start...

Why I like it: its so bittersweet and so lovely like the harmonica’s odd notes are just so beautiful and melancholic and the rolling happy drums and piano are brilliantly characterful like something out of charlie brown or something 

Song 6- Virgin- Manchester Orchestra 

How  first heard it: oh god okay so two years ago I read this frerard fanfic(k i l l m e) that was like, critically acclaimed within the mcr fandom with the abbreviated title asotm(if you know, you know), and someone made this awesome video edit based on the fic with this song in the background and posted it to instagram and I was like damn this is edgy I love it 

Favourite lyrics: ‘kiss him on top his lips and crucify the fire’ because the singer spits out that spicy religious imagery 

Why I like it: the way the song builds up slowly and menacingly whispers then shouts with the guitars is v v effective yes I love 

Song 8- Misty Mountain Hop- Led Zeppelin 

How I first heard it: I don’t know? I’ve always been familiar with it? I think I acknowledged it having a title when I watched Almost Famous for the first time maybe?

Favourite lyrics:  ‘crowds of people sittin' on the grass with flowers in their hair’ gives such snazzy chill rock n roll vibes that I love 

Why I like it: the keyboard is so jazzy and the singing is so sassy 

Song 9- Can’t Seem To Make You Mine- Sky Saxon & The Seeds 

How I first heard it: okay so when I was like seven, it was in an advert for some kind of male fragrance like lynx and I remembered hearing the instrumental whilst the guy in the advert walked through some convenience store in his pants or whatever and thinking this is the best thing I’ve ever heard but then I never heard it again yet I got the snippet from the advert stuck in my head a few times a year until last year(eight years later) I was listening to the stranger things soundtrack whilst drawing and it came on and I shit you not my brain fucking exploded right there and then like all over my drawing tablet and the keyboard 

oh my god I found the advert omG https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSModGhmjnw (tf was that advert though oh my god)

Favourite lyrics: ‘with every breath and step I take I’m more in love with you’ are lyrics you’d expect to be sung with joy and perk but they’re actually sung with such a depressing and dragging drawl its almost laughable 

Why I like it: that harp/paino(?) instrumental break is beautiful and that guitar twang is great 

Song 10- Run to the Hills- Iron Maiden 

How I first heard it: I’m not sure, it was probably on the radio seeing as Planet Rock is the default sound of my kitchen 

Favourite lyrics: ‘white man came across the sea, he brought us pain and misery’ tell that story aye go

Why I like it: its just damn spunky and intimidating enough for me to listen to on full volume at school during registration so I get to leave the classroom for period 1/5 not wanting to cry as much oops(that got deep)

woah you read all of that ?? I’m proud of you but also worried 

[howyouwork-blog]

Out of Rhythm: Changing Your Circadian Rhythm in this Trying Time

It's that time of year where people the world over give a great big middle finger to their circadian rhythms. That is right, its daylight savings time when we all shift our digital clocks forward an hour and hope our internal clocks don't baulk too much.

First, a little history on daylight savings time. The reason we shifted our clocks forward an hour on March 12, 2017 is because we did it the previous year. The reason we did so in 2016 was because we did it in 2015. And so on. You might ask when the first daylight savings shift occurred or why it was implemented, and I say, "Why examine the past when it's the future that will determine how we live the rest of our lives?" Something tells me we will continue to observe daylight savings time because we have not stopped yet. After all, history is a good indicator of the future.

Facing the fact that March 12th is a 23-hour day, what are some ways to handle the loss of an hour in a day? Since we, as a society, don't really rely on the sun as an indicator for time to a great extent (this is exacerbated by the lack of a sun in the sky in my hometown in the ever-overcast Pacific Northwest) I like to think of daylight savings as being similar to traveling one time zone to the east. Here are a few things I like to do to reset my internal clock when it's needed.

1.       Time your meals.

Do you usually eat breakfast at a specific time? How about lunch or dinner? Even if it is just a cup of coffee, keep up the routine with the new 1-hour time shift. Your circadian rhythm is strongly influenced by the schedule with which you eat your meals. You may not be hungry at the new time, but forcing yourself to eat, even a small amount, will help shift your internal clock.

2.       Wake earlier, sleep earlier.

That morning first day or two may be brutal. Do your best to wake up at the new time. It may take an extra shot added to your morning Starbucks order, but waking up when your clock reads the same time as your usual wakeup time is one of the most effective ways to adjust to the new time. Likewise, getting to bed earlier than usual will also help. Inevitably, attempting to go to bed earlier will feel unnatural and you are unlikely to be tired an hour earlier than usual. Which leads me to my next point…

3.       Use light to your advantage.

I get it, you really like watching TV right before bed, or maybe it is surfing the web, checking e-mail on your phone, or reading that e-book on your e-reader. For once, follow the advice you've heard hundreds of times before and just turn it all off an hour before you want to go to sleep (or eight hours before you want to wake up). Receptors in your eyes register light in the blue wavelength spectrum as indicating that the sun is still high in the sky and suppresses the activation of melatonin in your system. If possible, use red or amber lights later in the day, or grab a pair of snazzy blue-light-blocking glasses. Speaking of melatonin…

4.       Try a natural melatonin-based sleep aid.

Melatonin is a natural hormone produced in the pineal gland that signals it is nearly time to sleep. Do not take it immediately before jumping into bed because it has an immediate small stimulant effect. Instead, take it 30-60 minutes before you want to fall asleep. As mentioned above, avoid bright lights after taking it because it those receptor in your eyes will prevent melatonin from working even if you have taken a mega dose of it.

5.       DO NOT use other sleep aids or alcohol to assist with sleep.

It is tempting to toss back an Advil PM or an extra glass of red wine to help get to sleep. However, alcohol and the substances in OTC sleep aid disrupt your natural sleep cycles. Some may call these "Band-Aid solutions", but it would be more accurate to say this is similar to sticking a Band-Aid over the gas gauge of your car so you do not see that the needle is on "empty". Although these substances will prevent you from being awake, the "sleep" they induce is more similar to being unconscious or in a coma than to normal restorative sleep. You would be just as energized the next morning if you sat in a chair staring at a wall all night.

Despite the number of attempts in the past to do away with daylight savings time, it is most likely here to stay. We can all hope that our hour will not be taken away from us at some future date, but it is best to prepare for the worst: Being somewhat groggy for a few days while we adjust. I hope these tips help marginally ease the pain. Good night and God speed.

[stopmeifyouvealreadyheardthisone]

History: America’s Greatest Hits

After a brief (and by “brief”, I mean “about 72 hours”) interlude, during which I attempted to figure out what was causing the strange double-tracked drums and vocals, I’m finally back. It turns out that something about the fact that I plugged the turntable into the “mic in” port instead of the “line in” port was causing it to play back twice, with a delay of a few milliseconds between each play. I’m kind of disappointed that ABBA didn’t sound like that all the time, to be honest. 

Tragically, I was attempting to write another post when I noticed that it was time to go to bed. I clicked “save as draft”, but apparently Tumblr requires you to confirm that you want to save your work (shoutout to poor design) after telling it that you wanted to save your work. So when I turned my computer off for the night, I lost the whole post. So let’s pretend that it contained anything worth reading and have a brief moment of wordless animal shrieking to mourn its passing. 

There, didn’t that feel good? Don’t you just feel clean on the inside? Just (he said, shoehorning-it-in-ingly) like the album cover on the outside?

Anyway... on to, I guess, the record. I seem to remember talking shit about California and by extension, Warner Bros. for putting a picture of Burbank on the center label. And the phrase, “Burbank: If You Have to Ask, You Can’t Afford to Live Here”. Because I know very little about California. Burbank in the 70s could be a mine-laden hellscape for all I know. I like that idea better than a paradise, actually. Roving gangs of rival record company executives careening through the streets in armored cars, swerving around bombed-out buildings, taking potshots at anyone with a boombox. 

It’s just what they want you to see! 

The cover has a little brown stain in the corner, but it doesn’t seem to have touched even the inner sleeve, which was a welcome surprise after how warped that ABBA record was. I have hope for this collection again. The vinyl is still in pretty good shape, with a smudged fingerprint or something on it, but no scratches or anything. I don’t know why I’m grading it when I should be listening to it, though. 

There’s really no point in reviewing “A Horse with No Name”. Trying to pretend I’ve never heard it would be impossible. I grew up on classic rock radio, so this song has been part of my life since I was a kid. But for those of you who grew up in Saudi Arabia (i.e. under Iraq), “A Horse with No Name” is a sort of swirly, trippy song. I’m trying to avoid the obvious desert, but this is such a West Coast kind of song that it’s really difficult. It seems to deal with a loss of identity in isolation. 

“I Need You” departs from the parched, wide-open wasteland almost immediately with a lush piano/guitar arrangement and a pretty love song. I’m not sure if it’s become a cliche because of this song, or if it’s been a cliche since Ol’ Billy Shakes was trying to get into womens’ petticoats, but I rather enjoy the mournful chorus: 

“I need you

Like the flower needs the rain

You know, I need you

Guess I’ll start it all again”

I can’t help but feel that it’s excessively literal there, because “You know, I need you/Guess I’ll start it all again/You know, I need you” is the backbone of the entire chorus, repeated so many times that it overshadows the much more interesting lines. 

Up next is a “by special request” song. What does that mean? Did a sick fan send the label a letter begging them to put “Sandman” on the record? Did the band really like this song? It’s certainly not bad. Keeps up the melancholy vibe from “I Need You”, but occasionally dives into jaunty pickin’ sessions. I’m reminded of a cartoon hillbilly who punctuates his stories with lightning-quick banjo rolls instead of spitting tobacco juice. 

You know, because kids might think spitting black slime is cool (spoiler: it totally is. Who do you think was the dinosaur all the kids loved in Jurassic Park? The T. rex? The velociraptor? Fuck no, it’s the one that eats Newman.)

“Ventura Highway” is the first America song I ever heard and bothered to look up. I heard it as a breakbeat remix, which fits the uneasy, shaky rhythm of the song strangely well. I’m just noticing that the entire band seems to be singing, as well as the fact that they make some mention of alligators flying... for some reason... surely nothing to do with California’s role as a hotspot for the American counterculture in the 60s and 70s. They seem to make a precognitive dig at Prince changing his name, as well. 

“Wishin’ on a falling star

Watchin’ for the early train

Sorry boy, but I’ve been hit by 

Purple rain

Aw, come on Joe, you can always

Change your name

Thanks a lot son, just the same.”

Is this album called History, or Prophecy?

“Don’t Cross the River” picks up the pace again, this time with a kind of folksy, bluegrass-y banjo reel courtesy of a one Henry Diltz. Whoever that is, I hope he made a decent chunk of change off of this one, because it wouldn’t be anywhere near as chippper without his pluckin’. I’m noticing that almost all of the tracks on here are credited to different people, with America mostly appearing as “all other instruments”. Was the name America a sort of play on the general population of their instrumental section? 

Another thing I’m noticing looking at the sleeve is that all of these songs were remixed by George Martin. I’m not sure if it’s the George Martin, but if it is, then his version of “Only in Your Heart” makes me wonder how he really felt about the breakup of the Beatles three years earlier. From the plunky piano to the group harmonies to the simple message about sticking with the one you love. Until the song seems to end, and with a slinky guitar dive, it segues into a gorgeously thick electric guitar solo that takes us out of Side 1. 

Something I’m noticing as I slice these recordings up (I’m recording a whole side at a time, then splitting up the tracks all at once) is that the songs on this record flow into each other with almost no gaps. That strikes me as odd for a greatest hits compilation, since the songs were sometimes recorded years apart. Just something odd that I found interesting.

And now for something that made me twitch a little bit. It’s off-center. It’s not properly aligned. It’s on the B-side. And it’s fucking upside-down. Ugh. Come on, Mom. I know it was legal for you to be shitfaced while you were getting ready to head off to college, but don’t embarrass yourself. 

Where to begin with “Muskrat Love”... What the fuck, guys? Honestly, who were you hoping to hide your teenage backseat power ballad from with this shit? At best, this song is about straight-up Discovery Channel animal porn. At worst, it’s... just weird. The singer can’t quite pull off a sexy baby-makin’ croon, and the harmonies just drive home the point that multiple people signed off on the lyrics to this song, and put real effort into the melody, and decided that it would be A-okay to veil the ordinary boy-meets-girl-and-they-bang-in-a-pile-of-hay-or-something romance behind a nature documentary. Bloodhound Gang only pulled it off because they also penned such lyrical epics as “New Vagina” and “Kiss Me Where It Smells Funny”. I’m so bewildered by the inclusion of this song that I missed half of the next one. 

“Tin Man” seems to be a return to sanity. Sort of. I don’t know what it’s talking about, except that the Tin Man got the short end of the stick in The Wizard of Oz. One verse, then two choruses. No solo. I don’t get it.

“Lonely People” might be a return to form. A toe-tapping tragedy for all the broken hearts out there. I’m not sure why they felt the need to go to London to record this one, because apart from losing some of the open, airy, jam-room quality of their earlier songs, I can’t hear much of a difference. Notably, this was produced and arranged from the beginning by George Martin. Perhaps this was his master plan for America: studio perfection.

A different singer comes in to take over lead vocal duties on the next song, a love song about a man desperately hoping to stay out of the dreaded Friend Zone, despite putting almost no effort into his relationship. Better luck next time, unnamed vocalist. Your voice would be better served standing outside “Sister Golden Hair”’s bedroom window than in the studio making a song with literal doo-wops in it. This is another George Martin joint. Produced and arranged. I’m starting to think that maybe George Martin should wait until they’ve recorded the music the way they want before he puts his polished pop hands on it. 

“Flyin’ me back to Memphis

Gotta find my Daisy Jane

Well the summer’s gone

And I hope she’s feelin’ the same

Well I left her just to roam the city

Thinkin’ it would ease the pain

I’m a crazy man and I’m playin’ my crazy game, game.”

You fucked up, man. That was unwise. Now Daisy Jane found another man and you just want her to keep the oven warm for you. Probably so you can put a single solitary bun in it. You wasteful piece of shit. Don’t you know there’s not-really-a-war going on?

The guitars in “Woman Tonight” can only be described in terms of that great classic, “Play That Funky Music”. As in, “they sound like ‘Play That Funky Music’.” There’s some little organ flourishes, but overall, the song is just another 70s bang-anthem. It seems that the gentlemen of America are much better at roamin’ and ramblin’ than they are at romancin’. At least this one has a happy ending. Or, I guess, a happy beginning/middle/end. Cuz it’s about bangin’. Although, reading a bit too far into the lyrics, this sounds like it could be a kind of toxic, jealous relationship. “I get the shivers up and down my spine/The only time I’m happy’s when I know she’s mine. So hold me, hold me tight. Hold me tight, woman tonight.” 

Mr. America, you have nothing to be insecure about. You have long hair, any one of three very snazzy 70s suits, and presumably own this place called Dirt-Pit Manor where you take all the women you bang. I think you can see one of them standing at the window, if I’m not mistaken. She seems to be standing in such a way as to not have full-frontal nudity on the inside sleeve of the album.  

Overall, I think I like America. There were some oddball choices for a Greatest Hits album, but since the oldest song on this record was only four years old at the time of pressing, I don’t think their career had really been long enough to actually warrant a Greatest Hits collection yet. It would be like Lorde doing one. Or Ed Sheeran, to use a more current example. Although, to my knowledge, Ed Sheeran started his career making music like this and then became a sad, ginger Irish cog in the American music factory. Oh, Ed. I think I stand alone in having an improved opinion of you after your Game of Thrones appearance. Because now you’ve been a part of something I enjoy, instead of just a bland, flabby pop song that plays on the radio literally everywhere in the known universe at least once per day. It is in-fucking-escapable. It makes me want to punch holes in infants. I cannot wait until they start promoting another musical equivalent of plain oatmeal so I can get sick of something new for a change.

Anyway... 

Music: chill vibes for long drives/10

Media: Dang it, Mom/10